ASCP Responds to PFS Final Rule, Addresses Harmful Coding Changes Finalized for IHC and Prostate Biopsies
As the CY 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule-making process comes to a close, ASCP continues to advocate on behalf of our members and the patient community they serve.
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ePolicy News Special EditionIf you are a pathologist who bills Medicare Part B but has zero applicable Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures, there’s something you should know: You will NOT be subject to the -2 percent payment adjustment enforced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Calendar Year (CY) 2014!
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HHS Responds to Advocacy Efforts, Laboratories finally relieved of EHR Gifting Burden!
On Dec. 23, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released companion rules extending a provision allowing certain healthcare entities to essentially gift Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems without violating the Stark or Anti-kickback laws. Though previously included in the list of entities safe harbored under this provision, the final rules differ from the proposed rules in their exclusion of laboratories from this list. This means that laboratories will no longer be allowed/expected to gift EHRs to (referring) physicians.
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Since the creation of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) in 2007, ASCP has been committed to educating our members on program requirements and communicating to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) when program requirements do not meaningfully align with the pathology specialty. However, after years of urging CMS to slow program advancement, develop more pathology-specific measures, and exempt pathologists with no applicable measures from negative payment adjustments, ASCP is shifting to an even more proactive advocacy approach.
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